Python for beginners or not? [was Re: syntax difference]

[Stefan Ram]

  To: Steven D'Aprano
From: ram at zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram)

Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python at pearwood.info> writes:
>It has been a long, long time since Python has been a "simple" language
>suitable for rank beginners, if it ever was. Python is not Scratch.

  Python is simpler insofar as you can write on a higher level
  than with C. Python has a GC and an intuitive syntax for
  lists, tuples and dictionaries.

  main.c

#include <stdio.h>
int main( void ){ printf( "%d\n", 60000 * 60000 ); }

  transcript

-694967296

  Above, a beginner has to take care to use Γ╗%dΓ½ and remember
  to change this to Γ╗%gΓ½ when necessary. He also needs to
  understand why the result is negative, and that the result
  is /implementation-dependent/. Surely,

|>>> print( 60000 * 60000 )
|3600000000

  is easier to read, write, and understand.

  Still, one must not forget that learning Python encompasses
  all the hard work it takes to learn how to program in every
  language.

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